Suitcase and tray



Feb. 17, 1959 T. WILT SUITCASE AND TRAY Filed July 27. 1954 SUITCASE ANDTRAY Ted Wilt, Evanston, Ill.

Application July 27,v 1954, Serial No. 445,955

13 Claims. .(Cl. 190`41) This invention pertains to improvements inluggage, such as wardrobe type suitcases or traveling cases, in whichgarments may be'conveniently arranged over hangers, folded, as forexample, medially c-rosswise of their length, and packed and carried insuch improved luggage without becoming wrinkled or creased ordisarranged in the luggage.

More specifically stated, this invention pertains to an improvedarrangement for carrying garments and other items of clothing in handluggage of conventional size, wherein 'some of the garments are foldedyover an improved, freely movable or oating, displacement or folding andstorage element having a liexible and resilient garment shaping andrestraining portion to compressively coact with the adjacent surfaces ofthe garment or other v items of clothing and the adjacent surfaces ofthe walls of the suitcase to contine the garments in the suitcaseoutwardly and/or inwardly of the folding element in a predetermined,smoothly arranged, unwrinkled and uncreased order, and `wherein thefolding element or frame also functions as a tray and as a dividing unitfor the interior of the improved luggage.

Still more specifically stated, this invention fpertains to improvementsin a freely oating tray-type of garment folding frame or restrainingelement provided with a suitable resilient, exible and curved edge orwall section for compressively coacting indirectly with certain walls ofthe suitcase and directly coacting with the garments to suitably confinethe garments in a .predetermined shape retaining position and conditionoutwardly of the folding frame, and to vcompressively grip othergarments within the frame whereby to prevent undesirable wrinkling,creasing or shifting of the garments or other restrained articles ofclothing while confined in the luggage, and to provide a tray-typeelement for supporting as well as positioning other items of clothing'or toiletry and to separate other items from the folded garments whenconned in the closed suitcase as Well as when the suitcase is opened.

Various kinds of luggage, which may be obtained commercially, providenumerous arrangements for supporting or storing garments and other itemsof clothing in luggage. ln certain instances, some of such luggage alsoincludes luggage trays. VIn some such types of luggage it is commonpractice to provide for the suspension of a `garment or garments ongarment hangers supported in the lid or cover section of the luggage,and to fold the garment or garments crosswise of its lor their lengthsubstantially medially of the garment and deposit the lower or dependentend of the garment or garments in the base or body section of theluggage. Upon closing such luggage, with the suspended garments thusarranged, the garments must fold sharply, generally or approximately,along the line of hinged connection between the body and lid sections ofsuch luggage. Such folding of a garment commonly results in theformation of undesirable wrinkles and creases in the garments. Incertain instances, some types vof wardrobeluggage have been providedwith 'a rigid and at least partially fixed displace- 2,873,830 PatentedFeb. 17, 1959 ment or folding board or tray arrangement as well as withgarment restraining straps ,for coaction lwith the garments and thewalls of the luggage whereby to reduce the tendency of wrinkling thefolded garments confined in the luggage and to prevent the shiftingofsuch stored clothing. T o some extent such rigid and partially'zxedgarment displacement or folding elements could function to achieve alimited degree of Success in the prevention of wrinkliug of foldedgarments confined in-lugg-ageand the retaining straps cannormallyprevent the shifting of certain items of clothing.

However, the rigid aswell as. .the partially fixed'- aspects of suchrestraining 'and folding elements and the' fixed restraining straparrangements do .notpelmit -the satiskfactory use thereof in luggagein.- suchl instances wherein the number of garments tothe-.folded andsuspended in the luggage as wellas other items of clothing to lac-storedis varied from time to time. It is common practice in the constructionof such conventional luggage to provide rigid walls for the luggage andrigid wallsv as well as positioning fixtures for thegarment displacementor vfolding elements. In such instances, the space .provided between thewalls of the luggage and the contained rigid'gar-ment displacement orfolding and storage element will satisfactorily accommoclatevandfunction properly only-'with a predetermined lixed thickness of foldedgarments as well as a predetermined lixed volume of' other clothing. Anincrease in the number of ,garmentsl storedin the fixed available Vspacewill overcrowd thefluggageand will, dueto excessive pressures developed.upon closing of such overcrowded luggage, produce ,undesirablewrinkling or creasing of the garments and clothing. Similarly, vadecrease in the number of garments and other items of clothing from thatsufficient to satisfactorily lill the Igarment and clothing spacebetween the walls ofthe case and lthe `displacement unit and theinterior of the rdisplacement unit in such conventional luggage willresult in loose and unsatisfactory confining of the. garments andclothing inthe case. Consequently, it is apparent, that in luggageprovided with garment restraining or folding elements which are xed inposition and/or which areA xed .in size so as to preclude increasing ordecreasing the storage space for .garments and other `items .of clothingin luggage, it is impossible from time to time to 'secure satisfactorystorage in the luggage of varying numbers of garments vand other itemsof clothing.

The prior art does not provide luggage including the provision of selfadjusting, freely floating, Viiexible and resilient garmentAdisplacement or folding elements for coacting inwardly andoutwardly-thereof with garments and other items of clothing andindirectly with the walls of the luggage, to satisfactorily, from timeto time, enable the confining of varying number and quantity of foldedgarments and other items of clothing in wardrobe type luggage. Neitherdoes the prior art teach or disclose arrangements for the application of.a substantially -uniform ironing or smoothing and confining pressureupon stored garments along the fold zone to prevent the formation ofwrinkles or creases, as well asto restrain the movement of the garmentsand `other items of clothing within the luggage case, all of which areprovided by the present invention.

It is, therefore, the primary objective of this invention to Provideimprovements in wardrobe type luggage and the like; in which there is.provided a freely oating, self adjusting garment confining and foldingelement 4having a resilient and flexible garment contacting-andsupporting portion adapted to coact with the stored garments and otheritems of clothing and rcoactindirectly with `the walls of the luggage toautomatically and simultaneously ad just the space for foldedgarmentsand other items ot' clothing within the luggage to properlyaccommodate t the garment or garments and other items of clothing storedin the luggage whilefapplying a yielding but substantially uniformconfiningrv pressure, and where necessary a smoothing pressure, upon thegarment or garments along the fold zone thereof and to apply arestraining pressure on other items of `clothing and to function in thatmanner upon any number of garments or items of clothing stored in theluggage, within the operating capacity of the luggage; in which thegarment displacement or folding element, upon being appropriately placedin operating position in the luggage, will automatically adjust itselfin operative position to'provide the necessary conning room for thestored folded garments along the fold zone, and to apply a substantiallyuniform smoothing and confining outward pressure tothe garment orgarments as the case may be, within the storage range of the luggage,and to apply an inward restraining precsure upon the other items ofclothing stored in the restraining element; in which the garmentdisplacement or folding element is of such construction and is soarranged in the luggage as to directly or indirectly coact with theinner surfaces of the luggage and adjacent surfaces of confined garmentsand other items of clothing that as a result of the confining pressureapplied by the opposed body and lid sections of the luggage upon theclosing of the luggage, the restraining and folding element willautomatically tend to maintain itself in satisfactory operativeposition; in which the restraining and garment folding element may alsofunction as a tray for toiletries or similar small articles stored inthe luggage and separated from the suspended garments; in which therestraining or folding element may alsofunction as a clothing or otheritem positioning device and as a divider for the space within theluggage; in which the fixed capacity and rigidly positioned luggagetrays and restraining straps have been eliminated; in which a singletray-like element having a flexible and resilient wall section is usedto divide the storage space within the luggage into different zones, toposition certain items of clothing within the luggage and vtosimultaneously apply an outwardly directed confining pressure tosuspended garments and an inwardly directed-restraining or confiningpressure on other items of vclothing supported by the improved tray.

The foregoing and other objectives, important new and novel and usefulfeatures and advantages of this invention will become more apparent andbe more easily understood upon examination of the following descriptionthereof and the accompanying drawings and appended claims. It should,however, be understood that, without desire of limitation, the preferredembodiment of this invention Will be described and illustrated asimprovements pertaining to a wardrobe type suitcase and suitcase tray.Certain changes and variations may suggest themselves to those skilledin the pertinent arts, which changes may not, however, depart from thespirit of this invention and may come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of theinvention in a rigid, rectangular wall type of wardrobe suitcase;

Figure 2 is an elevational, transverse sectional view, of a suitcase ofthe general type illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings and embodyingthe present invention;

Figure 3 is an elevational end View, partially in broken away section,illustrating the embodiment of this invention in a closed suitcase ofthe general type illustrated in Figures l and 2 of the drawings;

Figure 4 is an illustration of the invention similar to that shown inFigure 3 of the drawings but wherein the suitcase has been provided withcurved front and rear edges to provide a case having front and rear wallportions generally conforming to the curvature of the flexible wall ofthe garment restraining element within the case;

Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to the View shown in Figure l ofthe-drawings and illustrating the adaptation of the invention for use inconnection with long flared garments which must be folded around therestraining element from various sides thereof;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the improved trayand garment restraining and folding element, having hand grip provisionsin its end edges;

Figure 7 is an end View of a further modified form of the improvedgarment restraining element and suit` case tray having a transverse,resilient, flexible, upwardly and inwardly curved garment contactingwall along two opposite edges whereby the tray is made reversible, andhaving hand grip'and material limiting means for limiting the bendingmotion of the curved and flexible garment contacting walls;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of another modified form of the improvedgarment restraining and folding element formed of a framework ofresilient and flexible material having a suitable covering jacket.

Referring to the drawings in which like elements are identified by likenumerals, and referring particularly to Figure l of the drawings, 1represents the base or body portion of a wardrobe type of suitcase orhand luggage of generally vrectangular configuration, having an open topdefined by the upwardly extending, opposed, vertical end walls and sidewalls which are joined to the flat, horizontal bottom wall of the basesection of the case, as viewed in Figure l of the drawings. Thecomplementary, substantially rectangular lid section 2 which, when thecase is closed, has downwardly extending, opposed end and side walls,complementary to the corresponding walls of the base section 1, whichdefines the open lower portion of the closed lid section 2 when the caseis closed. The lid section 2 is hinged to the base section 1 by suitablehinge elements 3 along the juxtaposed edges of the rear side walls ofthe base section 1 and lid section 2. A carrying handle 4 is suitablysecured to the front wall of the basesection 1. Locking means 5 areprovided on the front walls of the sections 1 and 2.

When the case is opened the lid section 2 is supported by the hinges3'substantially vertically at the upper end of the rear wall of the base1 and stabilized in that position by a collapsible brace element 6. Abracket element 7, for supporting suit hangers l8, is secured to theinner surface of the lid section 2 adjacent the mid portion of the upperfront side wall of section 2, as viewed in Figure l, of the drawings. Agarment 9, such for example, as a mans suit, may be draped over a hangerS and suspended in the lid section 2 with the dependent, lower halfportion of the garment disposed on the bottom wall of the lower section1 of the improved case. As thus arranged the garment 9 overlies the lineof hinged juncture of the sections 1 and 2 of the improved case at aposition relatively remote from the normal drape of the garment or atapproximately the medial portion of the garment vertically thereof,along which medial section 0r portion the garment must fold crosswise ofthe garment upon the closing of the improved case.

To satisfactorily accomplish the mentioned folding of the garment 9, andto avoid the undue wrinkling or creasing of the garment, and to securelyhold and partially support the garment smoothly with a yielding gentlepressure, there is provided a folding frame and restraining element 10.The element 10 may be formed of any suitable material, as for example,cast, extruded, molded or fabricated plastic. Similarly, it may beappropriately formed of any suitable metal, or may be formed of acombination of suitable materials and may, if desired, be covered with ajacket or sheath.

l The restraining or folding element 10 is, very generally stated,preferably of a configuration, contemplating a plan view outline,similar to that of the general plan view outline o f the base of theimproved case. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, illustratedin Figure I1 fof the drawings', 'such outline of 4the planxview wouldbegenerally rectangular in shapefwi'thrne width ortransverse or' crosswisedimension yof the vifolding and restraining element beings'omewhat'lessthanlbut substantially` as great .as the crosswise ortransverse dimension .of the interior of the base 1 of the case and withthe length Aorlongitudinal dimension of the element '10 beingappre'ciably vor substantially less than the length or longitudinaldimension of'the case and only slightly longer than the lower dependentportion ofthe suit 9 restingon the bottom .wall of the base section 1ofthe case.

In this application-a'transverse or width orcross`wise dimension will bedeemedto be afdimension measured from'left to .right when viewingFigurel from aposition on the 'handle side of the case of'Figur'e l,1while atlength or 'longitudinal 'dimension' will jbe ifleerned .to Vbea dimension measured from ythe front or handle side of thecasetothehingeside of the case as .viewed in'Figure 11, anda depthdimension willbedeemedto be a vertical dimension as applied tothehorizontal case of Figure vl, and will extend lfor examplefupwardlyfrom the lower panel of the .lower section 1 of the case.

YThe element .10 in normal use is deposited upon the depending portionof garment 9 in section 1 ofthe case toward the rear of the case, and iscomprised of a substantially horizontal main panel -11 adaptedtooverlie, andin part rest upon, the dependent portion ofthe garment 9.disposed in the -section 1 of the ease on the lower wall thereof. Panel11, as shown lin Figures fl, 2 and 4, of the -drawings isprefer'ahly'formed ofsuitable .plasticmater'ial which may, if'desired,be transparentand of sucht'hickness orgauge as to provide a substantially rigid, yetvrelatively thin, .panel 11.. The Vdownwardly turned or directed frontedge or wall sect'ionlZ..depends from .the lforward or front edge ofpanel v11 and is of a height in proportion to the underlying thicknessof the stored garments, according .to the stored garment capacity of theimproved case, so that the extreme .lower dependentfend of the .garmentor garments 9 willnot be subjected to undue pressure by the main fpanelksection 11 andthe weight of articles which may in turn be stored on .thetray 10. The wall section 12 also functions as a transverse divider ofthe space .in the lower ,portion ofsection 1 of the case. A'

.An upwardly, and outwardly andthen vupwardly and inwardly andv .thenslightly downwardly and inwardlyv curved resilient and substantiallyflexible. wall section 13 extends from therear portion of the ,mainpanel section 11 of the `folding or tray element 10 in a .configurationhaving ,a vertical longitudinal crosssection in the lgeneral shape ofareclining `rU which .isnarrowerat its mouth than atits `mid section..When the :garment 9 is suspended in the improved case vin .the mannerillustrated in Figure *1, vof the drawings, the folding and shaping-'element 10 is deposited over `the lower `dependent end ofthe garment 9`in the section A1 of the case withthe downwardly directed front edge 12in front-ofthe lower end of the lgarment 9 and resting on the .innersurface of the lower wall ofjthe section 1 ofthe case with the .curvedgenerally U-shaped smooth exible and resilient rear or transverse wall13 of element `10 resting onthe upper fsurfaceefthe dependentportionofgarment 9 in section 1 of the easerand forced into compressiveengagement with the -adjacent surface of the vgarment 9 which overliesthe Vrear wall of the section 1 parallel to the line .of hingingybetweenfsections .1 and 2vof .the case. Theupwardlyand'inwardly and theAinwardlyand downwardly curved Iportions 1 of the vU-shaped section 13do .not compressively engagethe garments 9 `when the luggage caseisvopen, .but as clearly illustrated .inFigures ll .and 2, :of thedrawings, extend intov the-space generally along or slightlyabovetheplaneof juncture -between .the sections Y1 and .2.of -Athe ease,.vhie'hsectionsuof Athe 6 case will be occupied by the portions of thegarments -9 when "thec'ase'is closed. `Thesec'ti'on 13'is"of a depthsubstantiallyv less vthanlthe depth'o'f the case'when closed.

' As'illu'strated in Figures l, 2,' 3 vand 4, of the drawings,

thespaceinteriorly `ofthe U-shaped vsection 13 may be utilized for thestoring ofc'ornpressiblepgarments such as shirts14, etc., which are 'tovbe grasped and held in placein'the vsection 13 when compressed.

Upon vclosing of ltheimproved case, by the hinged lowering of thesection 2 upon the section 1, the garment 9 is` folded crosswise of itslength, vgenerally along Iits' medial section aboutthe curved wall 13 ofelement 10. .Such folding during such closing operation graduallycompressing the resilient and flexible spring-like curved U-shapedelement 13 .into the `position shown in Figures 3 land 4 of the drawingsin which position the curved portion 13. of element v10 .adjacent lthemedial portion of the garments 9 in the rear'portion of the closed case,applies .a yielding upward, downward and rearward pres 'sure to .thegarments 9 which it engages Vsnugly and maintains insmooth unwrinkledand uncreased arrangementin `the improved case in the desiredposition-and order inwhich the garments were deposited Vin the case. Theinwardly and .slightly downwardly directed extreme inner upper portionof the curved element 13 coacts with the overlying portion of thegarments 9,` and, due to 7the plan of curvature ofthe compressed element13,` as illustrated in .Figure 4 of the drawings, tends to urge thecompressed curved wall 13 rearwardly of the improved ease into tightengagement with the portion of the Y garments 9 in .the .rear part ofthe case, and prevents the forward shifting ofthe tray 10. j

Similarly, uponthe described compressing ,or vclosing type llexing'ofthe curved'U-shaped wall section 13 upon the closing of the lid 2 onthe-base 1 of the `luggage case, lthe shirts or likecompressiblegarments or clothing items 14 .are compressed and securelylocked in postion between ',the upper and lower branches ofthe U-.shapedcurved side wall 13 of tray 10. .The clothingitems .14 which are thussecurely grasped upon the closing of the luggage and the incidentalflexing of the branches ofthe element 13 are automatically releasedagain upon the opening type ilexing of the branches of element .13..whenthe .case is subsequently opened. f

.Theresilience andllexibility of the curved wal113 of .theelement `10 issubstantialsuch as to adapt it to function satisfactorilyas arestrainingelement to accomplish the `lrereinbefore enumeratedobjectives, .throughout the entire vrange of garment capacity of theimproved case. The .unique garmentrestraining element is freely floatingY .within .the lower. section 1 of the improved caseandinay be shiftedlongitudinally, vertically and slightly transv ersely with respect tothe section 1 during the process of vrpacking the case. However, whenthe case is closed and the. resilient curved v-wall .13 is compressedvertically with respect to the case, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4ofthe drawings, the .element 10 is releasably lockedfin position intheclosed case.

Due rto'the ilexibilityof the curved wall 13 ofrrestraining .element 10a garment storage space of substantially uniform thickness, measuredfrom yfrontto back -of-.the stored garments, is obtained, and thegarments are not yunduly compressed. f l v The dependent wall 12 of trayy10 also functions as a ,divider whereby to protect the lower endsoftheV garments 49 from .items such as, for example, cosmetic case 15.stored rin section 1 of thecase between the wall12 and the adjacentfront wall of the case 1 as illustrated invFigure 2 of .thedrawingsSlight'y forward or rearwardrthat is longitudinal adjustment of the.tray 10 during thepacking of the luggage twill rpermit the use of thewa1l12 to .urge -thecase yrlagainst .the v.front wall of section `1.oftheluggage case tozthus retainthecaselSin position. Y 1 'Ihe.downwardly directed `dividing .andsupporting wall efwtraylt) may alsobe. directedslightly inwardly to .nn

derlie the main panel 11v of the tray 10 asillustrated at 16 in Figure 3of the'drawings. Such an arrangement permits the use of the front edgeof the tray 10 and the thus tilted wall 16, as a retainer for shoes 17or like items which arrangement due to the Yoverlapping arrangementbetween the front edge of tray 10 and inclined wall A16 and the shoe 17in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings connes or retainsthe shoe 17 in position in the bottom section 1 of the improved casebetween the front edge of the tray 10 and the adjacent front side Wallof section 1 of the case. Obviously, slight forward or rearwardadjustment of the tray 10 Awill permit theadaptation of the use of theimproved tray for retaining shoes of different sizes in the describedmanner.

The garment storage cases of Figure 4 of the draw* ings, having thecurved front and rear edges emphasizes the garment storage Ispace ofuniform depth between the walls of the case and the Acomplementarysurfaces of the restraining element 10.A The increase or decrease indepth of garment storage spaceV between the element 10 and the lower andupper walls respectively of the sections land 2 is obtained as a resultof the ilexing of the `curvedwall 13 to decrease or increaserespectively the space between the branches or sides of the U-shapedcurved section 13. Similar adjustment in garment storage space betweenthe wall 13 and the rear wall in the case is obtained by suitableforward or rearward shifting of the element 10.

Obviously7 as the space for the storage or" folded gar ments between theU-shaped section 13 and the adjacent surfaces of the sections 11 and 2of the case is increased, the space for the storage of compressibleclothing items 14 between the branches'of the U-shaped section'13 issimultaneously and automatically decreased and vice versa.

As is clearly illustrated in the drawings, the upper surface of thegarment folding or tray element 10, may be used as a tray for thestorage of other items of clothing or toiletry in such a manner thatthey have the least possible contact with the stored garments 9.

Several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in anddescribed with respect to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings inconnection with the possible use of the invention for the storage ofgarments, such as mens suits and the like in wardrobe suitcases. Due,however, to the completely free floating arrangement of the tray orfolding and restraining element 10, which is not only of less dimensionthan the case transversely of the case but also of less dimension thanthe case longitudinally of the case, the invention is also well adaptedfor use in the similar storage of bulkier and larger garments such asladies dresses, including dresses having flared or Wide skirts.

In Figure 5 of the drawings there is illustrated an arrangement for thestorage of a dress 18 in the improved suitcase wherein the'dependingflared skirt portion of the dress 18 is stored in the lower section 1 ofthe case. It will be observed that the upper portion of the dress 18 issuspended on a hanger in the lid section 2 of the case and the ilaredskirt is deposited over section 1 of the case. After the folding andrestraining element is placed in folding and restraining position insection 1 of the case, the flared sides of the skirt, which normallyextend beyond the ends of the folding tray, are folded inwardly and overthe tray, overlapping one another, thereafter the lower portion of theskirt is folded inwardlyand overlapped over the previously folded daredside portions of the skirt over the top of and along the fronty edge ofthe folding tray 10.

In certain instances, particularly for the storage of thin garments suchas ladies dresses, and to. avoid creasing such thin garments, it may notbe desired to provide the restraining element 10 with a relatively thindependent downwardly directed front wall or ange 12; In such instancesthe front end of panel 11 may be provided with a downwardly'and inwardlyrolled edge 19 which,"due

Y 3 to its relatively extensive contact with a stored dress or similarlong garment, will vprevent creasing the dress along the line of contactwith the rolled` edge 19.

In other instances, the element 10 may be composed of only the mainpanel section 11 and curved rear wall section 13 asillustrated in Figure6 of the drawings. Such a simplified element 10 obviously requires theminimum space within'the improved case, and any of the trays 10 may beprovided with cut-out hand-grip arrangements 20 in the end edges ofpanel 11,- as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings.

In certain instances, particularly in instances wherein the restrainingelement 10 is to be used in a case having rounded front and rear upperand lower edge sections, it may be desirable to use a tray having curvedresilient and eXible front and rear wall sections 13 and 21 respectivelyas illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings. Such a tray would alsoincorporate into thefront section of the suitcase thefimproved flexibleand resilient garment support arrangement which has hereinbefore beendescribed in regard to a tray 10 having only the rear ilexible element13. The tray having both front and rear flexible edges 13 and 21 may beused to particular advantagefor certain types of longer garments. Such atray would 'yieldably support such longer garments against boththe-front and rear walls of the case. The variation of the tray 10illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings is also provided with bar-likehand-grip and motion limiting elements 22 which are secured to the panel11 at each end thereof intermediate the flexible and inwardly curvedwall sections 13 and 21. The elements 22 are of such a height and ofsuch a length as to enable easy grasping thereof when used as handlesfor the tray 10, and so arranged as to suitably underlie the inwardlyextending portions of the curved wall sections 13 and 21 in such amanner as to alsofunction as a stop element to limit the maximumdownward eXing of the curved wall sections 13 and 21, thereby to preventthe possible crushing of the curved portions of sections 13 and 21.

In Figure 8 of the drawings there is illustrated a variation of theimproved garment restraining element 10, wherein the element 10 isformed of a covered or jacketed stay-like frame work consisting ofrelatively rigid, straight, transverse stays 23 and overlapping,longitudinal stays 24 secured together at the points of overlapping.Each of the longitudinal frame elements or stays 24 is provided at oneend with a resilient flexible end portion having the sameV generalcurvature as hereinbefore described with respect to wall section 13 oftray 10 as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The transverseframey or stay-like elements 23 are so positioned as to define generallythe front, the rear and the upper and lower edge portions of theVariation of tray 10 illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings. The frameor stay-like elements 23 and 24, which may preferably consist ofsuitable material, such as tempered steel or resilient and flexibleplastic, when joined in the manner illustrated in Figure 8 of thedrawings, may be provided with any suitable form of enclosing sheath orjacket 25 to complement the interior of the improved case and traycombination.

In each instance any of the variations of the tray 10 illustrated in thedrawings may be provided with handgrip elements, one variation of whichis illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, wherein the transverseopposite cut-outs 20 in the ends of the panel section 11 of the ele ment10 may function as a convenient handgrip arrangement. Similarly, any ofthe illustrated variations of the tray 10 may, if desired, be providedwith the combined hand-grip and exible wall motion limiting handles 22,illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description of this'invention and from theaccompanying drawings, it will be apparent that this invention realizesthe introductorily enumerated objectives respecting ythe improvedsuitcase and tray therefor, which improved hand type luggage lpossessesthe hereinbefore introductorilyjlisted advantages and Yprox'vides Vanew, unique and useful arrangement and c oni- 1binatiomof l*elementsl:in 1luggage lwhich, dueto the' unique 'configuration and istructure oftheV combined -tray and garment folding and 'restraining -element andthe .coac- Vtion thereofdirectly or :indirectly with theinner surfacesvor the case, enables the utilization yof the maximum amount o'fspace inJthe luggage forjthe storage of vgarrrnentsrand-other items Ausuallycarried-in suchluggage .in the uniqueandnovel manner hereinbeforedescribed.

Having thus described and illustrated the preferred embodiment oflseveral variations of this invention Vvin lan yimproved `'suitcase and-tray therefor, the invention is not to'be interpreted as fbeingrestricted to the .specifically 'illustrated and 'describedembodiments`as set forthrin the drawings-and as'hereinb'efore described, exceptinsofar vas ,is necessitated by the"disfclosure of the prior art and the'appendedclaims 'The invention is lhereby claimed asfollows: v 1. Awardrobe type case including garment hanger means upon-which a garmentmaybe Vhung in the case forzthelstorage of'a garment comprising, incombination, a'ibod'yfsection having a'botto'm panel hingedly joinedalong an edge Avthereof'toa lid section having a top panel, each vo'fsaid sections vhaving endy 'walls and side walls 'joined to theassociatedpanel andhaving the free edges offthelcorresponding wallsadapted'to engage one another when 'the lid section is closed upon thebodysection, a floating andself adjusting type of garment folding andtray element having a resilient and substantially exible wall sectionalong one edge thereof around which agar- -ment may be folded when'saidcase is closedsaid folding and tray `element having overall vlength orlongitudinal and depth dimensions less 'thanthe corresponding'dimensions of the -interiorof said .case when closed and having a widthor transverse dimension less `than but st'ibstantia'lly'as great vas theAwidth or transverse dimension .of the interior of said case, and'saidresilient 'and substantially flexible wall lsection 'of said folding'and tray :element lin `the absence o f ilexing pressure having agenerally Ushaped cross section longitudinally ofsaid folding andtray/*element with 4the convex apex portion -offsaid- U-shaped cross:section beingdisposed adjacent the vlir'ies'of hinging 'between saidbody section and said lid section, yand having said U-shaped crosslsection por- .tion :of said tray element .partially 'flexed bythevfolded garmentwhen said case is compressively closed, whereby.toimaintain vsaid folded garment in predetermined position 'andcondition offolding'. f y I 2,2.;.A suitcase comprisedeof a bodysectionand alid zsection, veach of said .sections having end walls andside .walls and having vbottomand toppanels respectively and having thefree edges of corresponding walls yadapted to engage one another whenthe lid Section isclosed -upon the body section, hinge meansjoiningisaidlid section to said body .section alongthezjuxtaposed edges kof twoco1"- -responding side walls, a garmentifolding frame and tray .elementabout whicha garment may be foldedin said suitcase, said frame having atransverse dimension substantially as greatas but "lessithanthetransverse inner dimension of said suitcase and having arlongitudinaldimension substantially yless thanithe longitudinal dimension of Vsaidsuitcase, said frame and tray elementwhen'funcompressed having anupwardlyzand outwardly and thence upwardly and inwardly and vthencedownwardly and in- Ywardly lcurved and `resilient and substantiallyflexible wall section substantially parallelto kthe line of hingedjuncture between said bodylk section yand said'lid section .andadaptedto be compressively exedbetween thefolds of Jagarment by saidvbottom and top panels `when said suitcaseisclosed, said frame.andz.tray.element'when said -tiexible wall section is uncompressed.having a maximum `depthsubstantially less than Vthe .depth .of ytheinterior of said case when closed.` i

. 3. v-A 'wardrobe type case :for -the :storage 'of garments comprising,lin combination, two case .members hingedly secured together. alongV'two'juxtaposed edges and adapted Ato lforni an openable closed case, aoating displacement frame elementin the case having Ya resilient andsubstantially liexiblefcurved'wall section along Aan 'edge'thereofsubstantially Aparallel tothe line of hinging of said case membersandhaving theconvex side of said curved wall section adjacent tosaidline of hinging,.said displacement frame element having a width ,ortransverse` dimension .less thanbut substantiallyras vgreat as thetransverse inner 'dimension of the case and having a longitudinaldimension substantially less than Athe longitudinal inner dimensionofsaid case and 'being adapted to be spaced from all side and end wallsvof the case when closed, the extent of the spacing between the innersurfaces ofthe case and the adjacent surfaces of said displacement'frame element measured in the plane of .flexing of .the frame elementwhen the lcase isl closed and'said resilient curved wall is ilexed as aresult of theco'mpressive closing of saidcase being determined by thethickness of the contiguous portions of the stored` garment between saidinner surfaces of the case and the adjacent surfaces of the displacementvframe element.

4.` A suitcase comprising, in combination, a body section, a lidsection, hinge means securing together said body section and said lidsection, bracket means vin 'said lid section forsupportinggarmenthangers upon which garments maybe suspended, a floatingand self adjusting tray element within said body section, said trayelement having a substantially ilexible and resilient curved wallsection overlying azpo'rtion of the tray element and being vparallel tosaid/hinge means and unilexed when said-case is open and ladapted toengage 'thejgarments suspended vnponhangers in said case and to`pre`sssaidgarinents toward the adjacent `'inner surfaces of said sections whensaid eas'efis compressively closed and saidresilient curved wall sectionis flexed Yby-threlpressure of the opposed body section andl'id section,said tr'ay elementihaving'a ,transverse dimension less thanbtrsubstantially as great .as the inner `transverse dirnensi'onof vthesuitcase land having a longitudinal dimension substantially less thanthe v1onrgituclinal dimension of` the suitcase. l

5. lLuggage equipment comprising, in combination, a case having`rnatcl'ied'lower portion and lid portion hinged together' along one setofjuxtaposed edges, said case being shaped to have 'the lower yportieri.rest on a substantially horizontal flat surface andswhen openedto-havethehinged .lid `portion .disposed in a substantially verticalrarrangement, bracket ineanssecured to said lid portion adjacent thetopofthe inner face of said lid-portion for `susi-)ending uponfghangers the`upper' ends' fofygarments with the body portions of such .garments'extending downwardly into said lower portion .ofthe case and thenextending longitudinally through at least a section of thelopened lowerportion of .the ease, agarment Vfolding frame disposed transverselyacrossand xoverlying and .resting upon the lower ends of thetsuspendedgarments laid on .the inner Y surface of said lower portion of the case,said garment folding frame having aresilient and substantially flexiblerounded rear wall section of a size adapted when the case is closed` tobetlexedby the pressure of the opposed said lower portion land said lidportionbf said case acting throughl `said garments and yieldablydisplaced and press against the contiguousportions ofthe suspendedgarments urging them into engagement with adjacent innerk surfaces oftheluggage case and being uniiexed and rounded when the case is open. p'y f6. A' suitcase comprising, `in combination, a bodysecf tion, alid.section, means for A,supporting garmentsin said lid section andaspacefordepositing Vanother item of apparel inthe body section, vaoatingtray element in said suitcase, said'tray element having along oneside thereof a resilient and substantially flexible Acurved wall sectionoverlying a portion 'of said Ytray element and having along Vthe`opposite {side lthereof a downwardly directed wall section, said curvedwall section being unexed when said suitcase is open and being adaptedto engage the garments supported in said case throughout their adjacenttransverse surfaces and to press said garments toward the adjacent innersurfaces of the sections of said case when said curved wall is flexed bythe pressure applied theretothrough said garments by said body sectionand said lid section upon the closing of the suitcase, said downwardlydirected wall section being adapted to be moved into engagement withsaid other item of apparel and graspingly urging it against the adjacentinyin said downwardly `directed wall section is also inwardly directedwith respect to the body portion of said tray element, and wherein saidother item of apparel has a surface adjacent to said downwardly directedwall section complementary thereto, whereby when said tray element ismoved into engagement with said other item of apparel'the downwardly andinwardly directed wall section will overlappingly engage thecomplementary surface of said other item of apparent and upon theclosing of said suitcase will exert both a downward and sideward conningpressure against the other item of apparel.

8. A garment confining device comprising, in combination, a body sectionhaving a coverable open top, a cover section hinged to the body sectionand adapted to cover the open top of the body section, a garment hanger4bracket at the free end of said cover section interiorly thereof,garment hanger means detachably supported on said bracket wherebygarments may be suspended along the inner side of said cover'section andthe rear wall of said body section with the lower portions of suchsuspending garments resting upon and overlying a portion of the innersurface of the bottom of said body section,

garment restraining and shaping means adapted to overlie and rest uponthe upper surface of the lower portions of vsuch garments in said bodysection, said garment restraining and shaping means being ,otherwisenormally free to move longitudinally and transversely and verticallywith respect to the interior of said bottom section when said coversection is in open position, said garment restraining and shaping meanshaving adjacent the line of hinging of said body section and said coversection a curved and freely and substantially flexible and resilientwall portion of a generally U-shaped cross section ,in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the axis of hinging between said bodysection and said lid section and having one branch of the U-shapedcurved wall portion overlying a portion of a main panel section of therestraining and shaping means with the free end of the overlying portionnearer said main panel section than is a portion of the overlyingsection intermediate the free end and the apex of the generally U-shapedcurved wall portion, said generally U-shaped curved wall portion beingunexed when said curved section is in open position and being adaptedfor engagement with the inner surface of the suspended garments oppositethe rear wall of the said bottom section and lbetween the lower portionof said body section and said cover when saidcurved wall portion isfiexed by the compressive force applied thereto through said garments bysaid body section and said cover for pressing the contacted portions ofsuchl garments in unwrinkled form tightly against the rear lwall .ofsaid bottom section and preventing the wrinkling of the garments andmaintain the garments in predeterminedposition in said case,v l

I 9. A luggage case for the storage of a folded garment ,said bodysection on said lid section, bracket means in said lid section vforsupporting a garment hanger upon which a garment may be suspended withthe upper portion of said garment positioned in said lid section andwith ,the lower portion of said garment deposited in said body sectionand with the medial portion of said garment folded generally along thehinged line of juncture between said body section and said lid section,a floating type tray disposed at least partially within the body sectionof the luggage case, said tray having a transverse dimension less thanbut substantially asgreat asy the interior trans.- verse dimension ofsaid case and having a longitudinal dimension substantially less thanthe longitudinal dimension of said case and having a resilient andsubstantially flexible curved wall section alongvone sidethereof'overlyinga portion of a base sectionfof said tray and positionedgenerally parallel to said hinge means, said curved wall section of saidtray when said case is open normally extending away in unflexedAcondition from said base section a distance in excess of the availablespace intermediate the position to be occupied `by the folded portionsof a garment when the luggage case is closed, said tray being adapted tobe deposited upon the lower portion of the garment with the curved wallsection engaging the medial and adjacent portion of the garment, saidcurved wall section of said tray being adapted upon the closing of saidcase whereby a flexing pressure is applied by said body section and saidlid section through saidr garment to said curved wall section tocompressively engage with a yieldable pressure the adjacentA upper andlower and Ymedial portions of the garment stored in said case and,compressively urge those portions of the garment toward .the adjacentinner surfaces of said case. l0. A suitcase comprising, in combination,a body section having bottom and side surfaces, a lid section hinged tosaid body section, and a floating type of garment restraining andfolding and storing tray element disposed within said body section, saidtray element having a longitudinal dimension substantially less than theinterior longitudinal dimension of said body section and having atransverse dimension less than but substantially as great as theinterior transverse dimension of said body section and having along itsfront edge a downwardly extending wall element engaging the adjacentsurface of the bottom of said body section and spaced from the adjacentfront side surface of said body section, whereby said downwardlyextending wall element supports the forward portion of said tray elementand segregates the space within said body section and below saidvtrayelement from the space intermediate said downwardly extending wallelement and the adjacent front side surface of said body section.

1l. In a suitcase the combination of, a body section, a lid section,each of said sections having corresponding end walls and side walls anda top panel in the lid section and a bottom panel in the body sectionand having thefree edges of the several walls adapted to engage oneanother when the lid section is closed upon the body section, each ofsaid end walls being joined to the associated panel member by anoutwardly convex curved edge portion, a iioating type garment foldingand restraining element within said suitcase, said folding andrestraining element having a transverse dimension less than butsubstantially as great as the transverse inner dimension of saidsuitcase and having a longitudinal dimensionA su-bstantially less thanthe longitudinal dimension of said suitcase, and having along one edgethereof parallel to one of said side walls a resilient and substantiallyexible wall section having a Vgenerally U-sh'aped transverse comprising,in combination, an open topped body section, Y

cross section when compressively ilexed, said U-sh'aped cross sectionbeing similar to but of lesser dimensions "than the correspondinggenerally U-shaped transverse cross section of the adjacent portion ofthe suitcase when :closed-,whereby when said 'ilexible U-shaped'wallsection of said restraining element is compressed by the application ofexing pressure through a garment by saidk body section and said lidsection when closed a generally U- shaped garment receiving space ofsubstantially uniform transverse cross section is provided intermediatethe U- shaped portion of said restraining element and the adjacent innersurfaces of said suitcase when closed.

12. In a luggage case, a tray having a multi-sided base section havingat one side thereof an integrally formed curved wall section overlyingthe adjacent portion of said base section, said curved wall sectionbeing resilient and substantially llexible and shape retaining in theabsence of exing pressures and shape'resuming upon the release of exingpressure and being adapted -by exing to engage garments folded aboutsaid curved wall section and stored in said case and apply a yieldableconfining pressure to said stored garments throughout their transverseextent for urging said garments into predetermined stor- 14 age space insaid case when said tray is compressively flexed between the -bodyportion and lid portion of said case by the application of pressure tothe curved wall section through said garments.

13. In a tray for a luggage case, a multi-sided substantially flat basesection having at one side thereof an integrally formed curved wallsection overlying the adjacent portion of said base section, said curvedwall section being resilient and substantially exible and shaperetaining in the absence of flexing pressure and being shape resumingupon the release of exing pressure.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,438,738 Witbeck Dec. 12, 1922 1,725,116 Walker Aug. 20, 1929 1,897,353Wilt Feb. 14, 1933

